JOHOR BAHRU, Jul 16 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) continues to strengthen its industry engagement through a strategic research and talent-development collaboration with JTS Engineering Sdn. Bhd. The collaboration integrates sustainable process innovation, real industrial problem-solving, and experiential learning opportunities for Chemical Engineering students.

JTS Engineering Sdn. Bhd. has contributed RM150,071 to support a collaborative research project entitled “Production Study of Sodium Aluminate for DEOX Upcycling Plant.” The project focuses on the production of sodium aluminate for application in the DEOX Upcycling Plant, reflecting the shared commitment of UTM and industry to develop practical, scalable, and sustainability-oriented engineering solutions.

The research project is led by Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Ho Wai Shin, with Dr. Aishah Mahpudz, Dr. Amnani Shamjuddin, and Dr. Dinie Muhammad serving as sub-project leaders.

The research team is further supported by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zarina Ab Muis, Dr. Mohd Asmadi Mohammed Yussuf, and Dr. Fadzlin Md Sairan. Through this collaboration, the multidisciplinary team brings together expertise in chemical process engineering, reaction engineering, process optimisation, sustainability, and industrial application.

The project is expected to generate valuable technical insights that can support the development and improvement of sodium aluminate production processes for industrial upcycling applications.

Beyond research funding, JTS Engineering has also contributed significantly to student development by offering a UNIX industrial placement to Chemical Engineering student, Muhammad Afif Mohd Azmi.

Through this placement, Afif undertook his industrial internship and final-year project in a real industrial environment, gaining direct exposure to engineering operations, process challenges, and professional expectations.

Afif was supervised by Tridansh B. Pandey, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of JTS Engineering Sdn. Bhd., as his industrial supervisor. At the faculty, he was jointly supervised by Dr. Amnani Shamjuddin and Dr. Aishah Mahpudz.

This co-supervision model effectively integrates academic knowledge with industrial practice, ensuring that the student’s final-year project addresses relevant engineering problems while fulfilling academic and professional requirements.

The positive impact of this industrial exposure was reflected in Afif’s achievement as second runner-up in the Best Presenter category for Final Year Project presentations among Chemical Engineering students.

The recognition demonstrates his ability to communicate technical work effectively and highlights the importance of industry-based learning in nurturing confident, competent and industry-ready graduates.

The sodium aluminate production project was also assigned as a real industrial case study for the Plant Design Project (PDP). This enables fourth-year Chemical Engineering students to work on authentic process-design considerations using industrially relevant data, operational requirements and sustainability challenges.

The most recent PDP presentation was held on 1 July 2026 as the 6th Net-Zero Verbund Plant Design Project Challenge in collaboration with the UTM Road to National Chemical Engineering Symposium (NACES) 2026 programme. This premier capstone initiative serves to redefine the preparation of prospective chemical engineering graduates, equipping them to navigate an industrial landscape that is progressively more integrated and focused on sustainable development.

The programme provided a platform for fourth-year Chemical Engineering students to present their integrated plant-design solutions and demonstrate their ability to apply chemical engineering principles to complex industrial and sustainability-related challenges.

Each design team was guided through a structured co-supervision approach involving both academic supervisors and industrial supervisors. This industry–academia engagement enabled students to refine their proposed designs based on practical insights, current industrial needs and real operational considerations.

The PDP presentations were evaluated by academic juries from the Department of Chemical Engineering, as well as industry juries representing various industrial sectors. More than an assessment exercise, the PDP served as an important platform for students to receive constructive feedback from experienced academics and industrial practitioners.

The feedback helps students strengthen the technical feasibility, economic relevance, sustainability considerations and practical applicability of their proposed plant designs.

“This collaboration provided a unique bridge between my academic studies and the realities of the industrial sector. Working on the sodium aluminate production project at JTS Engineering allowed me to apply theoretical principles to complex, real-world problems. The mentorship from both my academic supervisors and Tridansh was pivotal in my growth, teaching me to approach engineering challenges with both technical precision and practical insight. Receiving the Industry Special Award was a significant honor, but the most valuable takeaway is the professional confidence I have gained, which has fully prepared me to contribute to the chemical engineering industry.” – Afif Azmi

In recognition of outstanding commitment and performance, JTS Engineering Sdn. Bhd. presented an Industry Special Award to a dedicated design team led by Muhammad Afif Mohd Azmi.

The team members were Kuek Hanzhen, Nurul Amelyawati Ali Rofiq, Tai Wen Lin, and Grace Ling Fang Yee and the team was supervised by Dr. Dinie Muhammad, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zarina Ab Muis and Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Ho Wai Shin.

The award reflects JTS Engineering’s appreciation of the students’ effort, teamwork, technical contribution and commitment in addressing an industrially relevant design challenge.

This collaboration between UTM and JTS Engineering Sdn. Bhd. demonstrates a meaningful university–industry partnership that connects research, teaching, innovation and talent development. By translating industrial challenges into research opportunities and real-world learning experiences, the collaboration creates value through research outputs while preparing future chemical engineers with practical experience, professional confidence and a stronger understanding of industrial needs.

Co-authors: Dr. Aishah Mahpudz and Muhammad Afif Mohd Azmi